Sheet feeding device



Dec. 24, 1957 H. P. BECK SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 8, 1953 INVENTOR. .HAROLD P. BECK ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1957 H. P. BECKSHEET FEEDING DEVICE 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1953 H W BATTORNEY SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Harold P. Beck, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignorto Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of MichiganApplication June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,182

4 Claims. (Cl. 271-29) The present invention relates to a sheet feedingdevice and has particular application to the feeding of checks, papercurrency and the like.

The sheet feeding art has been confronted with a number of problems forwhich no completely satisfactory solutions have yet been proposed. Forexample, there has long been a need for an automatic sheet feedingdevice which will reliably feed from a large pile or stack of sheets oneand only one sheet in each feeding cycle. In prior sheet feeding devicesit has been necessary to limit the size of the stack to insure reliableoperation. Another problem has been the inability of prior devices tofeed sheets that are badly bent, torn or otherwise mutilated.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel sheetfeeding device which overcomes the limitations of the prior artmentioned above.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an automatic sheet feedingdevice which operates reliably irrespective of the number of sheets inthe magazine, and which is capable of feeding both good and mutilatedsheets with equal facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device capable offeeding sheets and especially checks and paper currency in the fit andunfit categories.

Still another object is the provision of a novel magazine in which aplurality of sheets are stacked and from which only the terminal sheetis fed in the absence of calibrated restraining mechanisms.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a magazine havinga novel arrangement of structure so as to prepare the terminal sheet forfeeding while the sheets stacked thereabove are positioned andrestrained from feeding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device whereby theterminal sheet to be fed will be caused to assume a desired shape beforeit is fed from the magazlne.

Still a further object is to provide a sheet feeding device which issimple in operation, and one which is capable of performing its desiredfunction on both new and mutilated sheets or an interspersed combinationthereof.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawingswhich disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention andthe best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the sheet feeding device,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 with a part of the drum shown insection,

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of the device showing the shape which theterminal sheet assumes as it is being fed from the magazine,

Fig. 4 is a partial side view of the device taken sub- States Patent2,817,519 Patented Dec. 24, 1957 stantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 5showing the shape which the terminal sheet assumes as it is fed from themagazine,

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the device in which the arrangement ofthe parts can be seen more clearly with some of the structure partlybroken away.

Referring to the drawings, the suction mechanism generally designated bythe numeral 6 consists of a rotating drum 8 mounted about a frame 10.The drum is provided with at least one set of suction ports 12 on itsperiphery; however, as shown in the drawings, more than one set of portsmay be spaced there-on; each set of ports constituting a cycle of thefeeding operation. Provided on the drum are means in the form of groovesor recesses 13 to aid in the removal of the sheets from the drum at anydesired point of its rotation, as will be explained later. Supplying thesuction of the ports 12 is a suction receiving chamber 14 whichperiodically communicates with a continuous source of suction 16 by wayof apertures 15. The source of suction 16 is connected to a suction head18 having a large aperture 19 intended to communicate with the chamber14 when the chamber is aligned therewith. Provision is made for thecontinued application of suction to the ports 12 by an arcuate aperture20 in the head 18. As the chamber 14 rotates past the aperture 19,suction continues to be supplied to the ports 12 by the communication ofthe chamber 14 and the arcuate aperture 20.. The length of time thatsuction is supplied to the suction ports 12 is, therefore, determined bythe arcuate length of aperture 20.

Positioned in proximity to or adjacent the drum is a novel magazine forreceiving a stacked plurality of sheets which are to be fed therefromone at a time. The magazine is generally designated by the numeral 22,and it consists of a pair of sides 24 and 26 and a backing member 28 tointerconnect the two sides. The sides are slotted to permit access tothe lower portion of the magazine. In the base or lower portion of themagazine is means 30 shown in the form of a plate member for supportingthe stack of sheets. The plate 30 has a longitudinally shaped opening 31defined therein by sides 32 for effecting a longitudinal bend in theterminal sheet of the stack preparatory for feeding. For the want of abetter description the opening 31 will be described herein as throatshaped. The sides of the throat taper outwardly toward the leadingportion of the magazine and are joined at their apex in approximatelythe first third of the leading portion of the plate 30.

Cooperating with the plate and with the throat shaped opening are a pairof spaced retaining shelves 34 overlying a portion of the suctionmechanism and spaced therefrom. The shelves 34 have a slight upward riseand are curved to conform to a portion of the periphery of theunderlying suction drum 8 so that the sheet supporting surfaces of theshelves 34 extend toward the leading edge of the magazine 22 in a planeabove that of the plate 30 to aid in effecting the longitudinal bend ofthe terminal sheet of the stack and to permit the placement of the plate39 and its opening 31 closer to the rotating suction ports 12. Each oneof the pair of retaining shelves 34 is formed as a continuation of thesides of the opening 31 and of the plate 30. As shown in the drawings,the retaining shelves are formed integral with the plate, yet it iswithin the contemplation of the invention to form the shelves asseparate members which may be suitably connected or united with theplate. The leading ends of the shelves 34 extend up to the trailing edgeof an abutment or restraining member 36.

The abutment or restraining member 36 is provided for restraining allbut the desired terminal sheet from feeding from the magazine 22. Therestraining member 36 is mounted in the leading portion of the magazineand is interconnected to the plate by sides 24 and 26. Extendingdownwardly from the restraining member 36 is an extension or finger 38which approaches the drum 8 but is spaced therefrom. The finger 38 isdefined by cut-away portions 37 on the restraining member 36 and isspaced longitudinally from the rear of the opening 31. The finger 38being narrower in width than the space between the shelves 34 islaterally spaced between and forward of the shelves 34. Finger 38extends below the sheet supporting surfaces of the adjacent shelves 34.

To provide for the counting of the sheets as they are fed from themagazine 22, a sensing finger 40 makes contact with the drum and isconnected by a conductor 41 to any well known counter. When a sheetpasses beneath finger 40, the contact which the finger makes with thedrum is broken. The breaking of the contact or the raising of the fingerofi the drum will serve to actuate the counter.

Predeterminately positioned at a point about the circumference of thedrum is a means 42 for removing the sheet from the drum at any desiredpoint of its rotation. The means 42 is shown in the drawings as takingthe form of a stripper plate having fingers (not shown) which fit intoand cooperate with the recess 13. The sheet, which up to this point isheld to the drum by suction, is stripped by the member 42 and depositedon the lower delivery belt 43. Belts 43 and 44 are so spaced that eachfrictionally bears against the sheet to move the same to a receivingchute or hopper 46.

Operation In the following description, as each set of suction ports 12carries a terminal sheet away from the magazine, the operation will betermed a cycle. The sheets are placed in the magazine 22 and are alignedby the sides, the backing member and the restraining member 24, 26, 28and 36, respectively. As the drum 8 rotates in the direction shown bythe arrow, the aperture 15 nears the source of suction 16. When theapertures 15 and 19 are aligned, the suction ports 12 will besubstantially under the throat shaped opening 31 and will, because ofthe suction, create a pull on the bottom side of the terminal sheet. Asshown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that the leading central portion of theterminal sheet conforms to the contour of the drum about the ports 12while the sides of the sheet are caused to rise or thrust upwardly bythe action of the retaining shelves 34 and the opening 31. The upwardmovements of the sides of the terminal sheet thereby raise upwardly thesheets which are stacked thereabove. The stacked sheets are, in turn,moved above the space between the bottom of the finger 38 and the drum8.

The drum 8 continues to rotate with the leading portion of the terminalsheet now covering one set of ports (see Figs. 4 and 5). While theterminal sheet passes between the shelves 34 and the abutment finger 38,the upturned sides or edges of the sheet pass through the cut-awayportions 37 which define the finger 38. The remaining raised sheets inthe magazine, having been moved upwardly, are now restrained fromfeeding by the finger 38. The terminal sheet is held to the rotatingdrum by virtue of the suction being supplied to the aperture 15, firstby its alignment with aperture 19, and subsequently by its alignmentwith the reduced arcuate aperture 20. It will be noted that the lengthof aperture 20 will determine the period of revolution during whichsuction will be applied to the drum and during which the sheet will beheld to the drum. Accordingly, the length of the aperture may be as longas desired. The sheet is retained on the drum until the stripper 42,cooperating with recesses 13, strips the sheet from the drum and causesit to be deposited on the lower belt 43. The lower belt 43, incooperation with belt 44, moves the sheet and deposits it in thereceiving chute or hopper 46.

It is obvious from the foregoing that a distinctly novel operation isperformed on the terminal sheet of the stack during each cycle offeeding. The creation of a longitudinal bend in the leading portion ofthe terminal sheet before the same has been removed from the magazinefacilitates the feeding of only the terminal sheet during each feedingcycle, without regard to the number of sheets in the magazine and theirmutilated condition,

thereby fulfilling the above stated objects of the invention.

Although a preferred manner of supplying suction to the ports 12 hasbeen disclosed, it should in no way limit the invention. Other means,for example, communicating valves provided within the drum and in thesuction supply, or a suction pump arranged within the drum, are alsoapplicable.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention,therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for sequentially feeding sheets from a stack and whichincludes a suction mechanism having means to be coupled to suctionproducing means, said suction mechanism traveling a path near a terminalsheet of said stack, a magazine for said stacked sheets comprising sheetsupporting means having a central opening therein extendinglongitudinally of the sheets and having side portions defining thelongitudinal edges of said opening, said side portions being spacedapart by a distance slightly less than the width of a sheet at theleading end of said magazine, whereby the terminal sheet of the stack isgiven a longitudinal bend at its center and is raised at its edges bysaid side portions as said suction mechanism withdraws the terminalsheet from the magazine, and a restraining element in the leading end ofsaid magazine spaced longitudinally from the trailing edge of saidopening and laterally between said side portions for restraining all butthe terminal sheet from leaving said magazine.

2. In a device for feeding sheets one at a time from the bottom of astack and which includes a suction mechanism having means to be coupledto suction producing means, said suction mechanism traveling in a givenpath beneath the lowermost sheet of the stack, a magazine for supportingsaid stacked sheets comprising spaced members having supporting surfaceswhich are adapted to support the leading end portion of said stack atpoints on the bottom thereof which are spaced apart by a distanceslightly less than the width of a sheet, whereby the bottom sheet isunsupported between said members for the greated portion of its width,and a restraining memher at the leading end of said magazine having aportion extending between and below the supporting surfaces of saidspaced members in proximity to the path of the suction mechanism forpreventing all but the bottom sheet from leaving said magazine.

3. In a device for feeding sheets from a stack, means for supporting thestack of sheets at points close to the side edges of the terminal sheet,leaving the terminal sheet unsupported for the greater portion of itswidth at the leading end thereof, a suction mechanism having means to becoupled to suction producing means, said suction mechanism traveling apath in slightly spaced relation to the unsupported portion of theterminal sheet, thereby to impart a longitudinal bend to the terminalsheet and cause its edges to be raised by said supporting means as theterminal sheet is withdrawn from the stack by said suction mechanism,and a restraining member 5 at the leading end of the stack forpreventing all but the terminal sheet from leaving the stack.

4. In a device for sequentially feeding sheets from a stack and whichincludes a suction mechanism having means to be coupled to suctionproducing means, said suction mechanism traveling a path near to andunderlying a terminal sheet of said stack, a magazine for said stackedsheets comprising sheet supporting means having a central openingtherein extending longitudinally along part of the length of the stackedsheets and having side portions defining the longitudinal edges of saidopening, said side portions being spaced apart by a distance slightlyless than the width of a sheet at the leading end of said magazine, andsaid side portions having sheet supporting surfaces which have an upwardrise near the leading edge of said magazine so that the terminal sheetof the stack is given a longitudinal bend at its center and is raised atits edges by said upwardly raised side portions as said underlyingsuction mechanism withdraws the terminal sheet from the magazine, and arestraining member at the leading end of said magazine having a portionextending between and below said sheet supporting surfaces of the sideportions and in proximity to the path of the suction mechanism forpreventing all but the bottom sheet from leaving said magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,175,807 Jones Mar. 14, 1916 2,033,849 Mudd Mar. 10, 1936 2,259,672Waller Oct. 21, 1941 2,568,069 Herr Sept. 18, 1951

